Utility burner head



Feb. 26, 1963 M. E. WEBSTER 3,078,915

UTILITY BURNER HEAD Filed June 10, 1959 III/III: ll- '11]; YII/III/I/IIIIIIIIIIIII/h J /2 HI/W V I6 I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA III-IIIIIIII/l/IIII/II/II/I/l/fl Fig-1.

INVENTOR. M/LO E. WEBSTER.

ATTORNEYS 3,078,915 UTELHY BURNER HEAD rliio E. Webster, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to Site Berna: 30., Inc Rochester, N.Y., a corporation Fiied dune 1i), H59, Ser. No. 819,369 4 Claims. (Cl. 3158-99) This invention relates to a new and improved con struction of a utility burner head for a blow torch. The invention more particularly relates to an improved utility burner head construction for a blow torch operated ofi LP. gas, such as propane.

In blow torches operated with LP. gas, such as propane, the LP. gas is maintained under pressure, as for example, under pressure sufficient to maintain a liquid phase in a cylinder. The gas is released from the cylinder, as for example, through an adjustable valve, and passes through some sort of conduit, to a burner head. A jet of the gas passes through the head and is admixed with air to form a combustible mixture and ignited in the form of a flame, which is used for the desired heating purposes.

The burner may be so constructed that the flame is emitted in the form of a Well-defined cone, which may be used for precise heating of a given point or area. Such a burner is often designated as a pencil burner. The burner head may also be constructed so that the flame is not so sharply defined but covers a general area. Such a burner head is often designated as a utility burner head and may be used for general heating purposes with auxiliary devices, as for example, flame spreaders or the like.

The pencil burner head is generally provided with a gas flow orifice or spud leading into a mixing chamber, provided with a multiple number of laterally positioned air intake openings. The mixing chamber, in turn, leads to a main central gas jet surrounded by a multiple number of annularly positioned parallel gas jets all surrounded by a protective sleeve. The gas from the cylinder passes through the small gas orifice or spud drawing in air into the mixing chamber through the lateral air opening. The combustible mixture thus formed flows forward out through the central jet and annularly positioned jets and is ignited forming a well-defined flame cone. The sleeve surrounding the jet acts to prevent disturbance from external air currents as the combustible mixture is emitted from the jets and tends to produce a more even and more sharply defined flame cone.

The utility burner, on the other hand, generally merely consists of a gas flow orifice or spud which leads into a coaxial gas flow passage which, in turn, leads into a wider cylindrical sleeve. Small lateral air flow passages are generally provided leading into the gas flow passage and larger lateral air flow passages are provided through the sleeve. The gas from the cylinder is passed through the gas orifice or spud and flows through the gas flow passage, picking up a small amount of air through the laterally connected air flow passages and then expands and flows out through the sleeve, picking up the major quantity of air through the lateral air passages in the sleeve and is ignited at the exit from the sleeve in the form of a wide, hot flame, which distributes its heat more uniformly over a Wider area as compared to the concentrated heat produced by the flame of the pencil burner.

Patented Feb. 26, 1953 In the utility bulner, the construction of the gas flow passage is critical for satisfactory operation. This gas flow passage has to be very precisely aligned with the axis of the cylindrical sleeve and even small variations in the alignment will detrimentally affect the operation of the burner.

The manufacturing has to be very precisely and accurately effected and even small tolerances will result in unsatisfactory burner operation. This substantially increases the cost of manufacture and results in a relatively large number of rejects. Furthermore, even slight mechanical alterations of this passage during operation or soiling would prevent satisfactory operation.

In addition, with the conventional utility burner construction the flame would very often extend to a greater or lesser degree to one side of the burner and would not be evenly distributed with respect to the axis of the burner, i.e. would not be coaxial therewith.

One object of this invention is a novel construction for a utility burner head which overcomes the abovementioned disadvantages, allows more eificient operation and satisfactory operation with larger manufacturing tolerances and which is not as sensitive to failure or impairment in operation due to mechanical injury or soiling. These and still further objects will become apparent in the following description read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of an embodiment of a utility burner head in accordance with the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

The utility burner head, in accordance with the invention, comprises a substantially cylindrical sleeve open at one end and closed at the opposite end. The enclosed end defines a gas fiow passage extending therethrough, coaxially with the sleeve. This gas flow passage has a section of its length leading into the sleeve of substantially uniform increased diameter and conically widened at its terminus adjacent the sleeve to substantially the diameter of the sleeve. Preferably, the gas flow passage is comically widened into said section of substantially uniformly increased diameter, at about the same angle as the conical widening of the section into the diameter of the sleeve. Most preferably, the gas flow passage has a section at its end opposite the sleeve of increased diameter and an immediate section of reduced diameter, as well as an end section adjacent the sleeve of increased diameter with lateral air intake passages extending into the first-mentioned section. The sleeve diameter preferably is about 8 to 12 times the minimum diameter of the gas flow passage and is most preferably about 10 times this diameter. The widened section of the gas flow passage, adjacent the sleeve is preferably about 2 to 3 and most preferably about 2.5 times the minimum diameter of this gas flow passage.

Referring to the embodiment shown in the drawing, 1 represents a substantially cylindrical sleeve formed of metal, as for example, brass, which is open at its end 2 and enclosed at the opposite end by the body 3. As shown the s.eeve and body are integral, being formed from a single piece of metal, which is drilled out from the end 2 leaving portion It forming the sleeve. Alternately a cylindrical sleeve may be pressed about a metallic body member 3, or the structure formed in any other desired manner. The body member 3, forming the enclosure for the sleeve 1, has a gas flow passage extending there through coaxially with the sleeve. This gas flow passage has a section in its end 4 of increased diameter, an intermediate section 5 of reduced diameter, and an end section 6, adjacent the sleeve of increased diameter. The intermediate section 5 conically widens at 7 into the end section 6 and the end section 6 conically widens at 8 into the diameter of the sleeve 1. The sides formed at the conical widening 7 and 8 are preferably substantially parallel to each other, i.e. these portions are preferably conically widened at the same angle. The section 4 conically narrows at 9 preferably at the same angle, facing in the opposite direction, however. A number of lateral air intake passages 10, as for example, three equally spaced air-flow passages, extend into the section 4. The sleeve 1 also is provided with a multiple-number of annularly positioned holes 11 laterally extending through its side wall. Thus, for example; six'equally spaced holes may be provided. The body-3 is also provided with a bore 12 which extends coaxially with the section 4; is of slightly larger diameter than section 4 and is tapped with female threads 13.- A gas flow tube 14 is screwed into the bore 12 and is provided at 'itsendwith the spud provided with the gas flow orifice 1.6, the spud 15 and tube 14 being of conventional construction.

As a practical example, the utility burner head may be formed from a single brass piece having a length of about 2.25" and a diameter of about .69". The center may be drilled out at 2 leaving a wall thickness for the sleeve 1 of about .03 to .04. A bit may be used with a tapered tip leaving the conical wall 8 at an angle of about 59 with the vertical axis. The length of the sleeve 1 to thepoint where the same begins to conicallynarrow at- 8 may be about 1.15 to 1.16. The section 6 may also be drilled out and have adiameter ofabout .15 to .16". This also may be drilled with a bit having a tapered tip so that the sides 7 have angles of about 59 with the vertical. The length of the section 6 may be such that the point where the same begins to conically narrow at 7 is about-.819 from the rear end of the burner body. The intermediate section 5 may have a section drilled out with a diameter of about .062. The section 4 may be drilled out from the opposite end, ie, the rear end, with a bit having a tapered tip so that the surface 9 forms an angle of about 59 with its axis. This section 4 may be drilled to a depth so that the beginning of its conically narrowed portion 9 is about .591" from the rear end of the burner body.-

Three equally spaced holes it), i.e. spaced at an angle about 120 apart of the diameter .052" are drilled into the section 4. The centers of these holes may be .531" from the rear end of the burner body. The section 13 may be drilled out to a diameter of .187" and also with a drill having a conically tapered tip at an angle of about 59 to its axis and to a depth measured to the point of conically narrowing of about .33 from the rear end of the burner body. The threads 13 may be tapped, as for example, with a #2 tap.

The holes 11 are drilled through the sleeve 1 and have a diameter of about .140" with six equally spaced holes being so drilled.

The burner head is screwed onto the end of the tube 14 provided with the spud'lS which has the gas flow orifice 16. Tube 14 and spud 15 may be of conventional well known construction and, for example, attached to a tap connection with a gas flow adjusting valve and a regulating valve which, in turn, may be connected to a portable throw-away LP. gas cylinder, as for example, the well known Bernz-O-Matic cylinder. The construction of the tap connection, the adjusting valve, and regulating valve and the manner of connection to the cylinder, etc. may, for example, be as described in United States Patent 2,793,504. With the tube 14 connected to a tap connection, which, in turn, is positioned on a portable throwaway LP. cylinder, and the adjusting valve open to allow the ilow of propane through the tube 14, the gas flow emitted from the orifice 16, flows through the section 4 picking up air which is drawn through the lateral air ilow openings 10, and flows with this air through the section 5 and expands and ilows through the section 6, and then out through the sleeve 1, picking up air through the openlugs 11 and thus forming a combustible mixture which is ignited in the form of a flame at the exit 2 on the sleeve 1. Due to the construction and the widening of the section 6, a very smooth and dependable operation is achieved and slight variations in the size and positioning of the gas flow passage will not detrimentally affect the flame characteristics.

Furthermore, theilame emanating from the burner will always be evenly distributed with respect to the burner axis and the problem of the ofiE-center flame encountered with the prior art burners is avoided. i

The length of the various sections 4,5, and 6 is not critical. Advantageously, the section 6 should have a length which'is at least half the length of the section 5, and most preferably a length, including the comicallynarrowed portion, substantially equal to the length of the equal diameter portion of the section 5.

While the invention has been described in detail, with reference to a specific embodiment, various changes and modifications which fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims will become apparent to the skilled artisan. The invention is, therefore, only intended to be limited by the appended claims or their equivalents wherein I have attempted to claim all inherent novelty.

What is claimed is:

l. A utility burner head for a blow torch having a cylindrical sleeve open at its forward end and closed at its rear end by a body portion, said body portion defining a gas flow passage of substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the sleeve and extending therethrough c0- axially with the sleeve, said gas flow passage having an intermediate section, acoaxial-gas, flow orifice directed into the rear end of said gas flow passage, and at least one lateral air intake passage extending into the portion ofsaid gas flow passage adjacent said gas flow orifice, the

portion of said gas flow passage leading into said sleeve. being of uniform increased diameter with respect to the diameter of the intermediate sectionof said gas fiow passage, conically widening at its terminus adjacent said sleeve to substantially the diameter of said sleeve, the

intermediate section of said gas flow passage conically;

widening to the increased diameter of said portion leading into said sleeve at substantially the same angle as said first-mentioned conical widening, said sleeve having a diameter of about 8 to 12 times the minimum diameter of said gas flow passage and the portion of said gas flow passage leading into said sleeve having a diameter of about 2 to 3 times the minimum diameter of the remainder of said gas flow passage. t

2. A utility burner head for a blow torch havingn cylindrical sleeve open at its forward end and enclosed at its rear end, by a body portion, said body portion defining a gas flow passage of substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the sleeve and extending therethrough coaxially with the sleeve, a coaxial gas flow orifice directed into the rear end of said gas flow passage, and at least one lateral air intake passage extending into the portion of the gas flow passage adjacent said flow orifice, the gas flow passage being subdivided into an intermediate section, a

forward end section leading into said sleeve, and a rest end section with said lateral air intake passage extending thereinto, said sections each having a uniform diameter with the diameter of said intermediate section being smaller than the diameter of the two end sections, the forward end of said forward end section conically widening to the diameter of said sleeve, the forward end of said intermediate section conically widening to the diameter of said forward end section at substantially the same angle as said first-mentioned conical widening.

3. Utility burner head according to claim 2 in which said sleeve has a diameter of about 8 to 12 times the minimum diameter of said gas flow passage and in which the portion of said gas flow passage leading into said sleeve has a diameter of about 2 to 3 times the minimum diameter of the remainder of said gas flow passage.

4. Utility burner head according to claim 2 in which the diameter of said sleeve is about 10 times the minimum diameter of said gas flow passage and in which the portion of said gas flow passage leading into said sleeve has a 6 diameter of about 2.5 times the minimum diameter of the remainder of the gas flow passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,313,694- Hunter Aug. 19, 1919 1,702,731 Hymer Feb. 19, 1929 1,825,047 Buchel Sept. 29, 1931 2,138,800 Young Nov. 29, 1938 2,368,370 Maxon Ian. 30, 1945 2,473,435 Luzader June 14, 1949 2,558,057 Mun June 26, 1951 

1. A UTILITY BURNER HEAD FOR A BLOW TORCH HAVING A CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE OPEN AT ITS FORWARD END AND CLOSED AT ITS REAR END BY A BODY PORTION, SAID BODY PORTION DEFINING A GAS FLOW PASSAGE OF SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER DIAMETER THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE SLEEVE AND EXTENDING THERETHROUGH COAXIALLY WITH THE SLEEVE, SAID GAS FLOW PASSAGE HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE SECTION, A COAXIAL GAS FLOW ORIFICE DIRECTED INTO THE REAR END OF SAID GAS FLOW PASSAGE, AND AT LEAST ONE LATERAL AIR INTAKE PASSAGE EXTENDING INTO THE PORTION OF SAID GAS FLOW PASSAGE ADJACENT SAID GAS FLOW ORIFICE, THE PORTION OF SAID GAS FLOW PASSAGE LEADING INTO SAID SLEEVE BEING OF UNIFORM INCREASED DIAMETER WITH RESPECT TO THE DIAMETER OF THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION OF SAID GAS FLOW PASSAGE, CONICALLY WIDENING AT ITS TERMINUS ADJACENT SAID SLEEVE TO SUBSTANTIALLY THE DIAMETER OF SAID SLEEVE, THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION OF SAID GAS FLOW PASSAGE CONICALLY WIDENING TO THE INCREASED DIAMETER OF SAID PORTION LEADING INTO SAID SLEEVE AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME ANGLE AS SAID FIRST-MENTIONED CONICAL WIDENING, SAID SLEEVE HAVING A DIAMETER OF ABOUT 8 TO 12 TIMES THE MINIMUM DIAMETER OF SAID GAS FLOW PASSAGE AND THE PORTION OF SAID GAS FLOW PASSAGE LEADING INTO SAID SLEEVE HAVING A DIAMETER OF ABOUT 2 TO 3 TIMES THE MINIMUM DIAMETER OF THE REMAINDER OF SAID GAS FLOW PASSAGE. 